Exploring the Future of HIPAG: A Q & A With APIC President Kathy Ward
HHM: Looking back over 2025, what has been the ongoing impact of changes that the current presidential administration has made, and what can the IPC sector do— aligned with HIPAG— to counteract it?
Kathy Ward( KW): 2025 was marked by significant disruption in federal public health infrastructure and rippled across the healthcare ecosystem. The dissolution of HICPAC and sweeping changes at HHS— including workforce reductions, grant cancellations, grant caps, Medicaid cuts and politicization of advisory panels— are all significant challenges that we have observed over the past 12 months. What can we do? APIC and SHEA jointly launched HIPAG to help address gaps created by the elimination of HICPAC. By providing evidence-informed, rapid-response guidance and fostering collaboration across disciplines, HIPAG ensures infection prevention remains science-driven and practical.
HHM: Where does the group stand one month after the announcement of formation in terms of securing experts and charting a course for the future?
KW: HIPAG’ s structure and membership framework have been finalized, and we currently have a group of leaders serving in the interim capacity while we recruit experts from among APIC and SHEA members. The group will officially be appointed no later than April 1, 2026. We have been building connections with liaison organizations and state health partners while we select and seat the new members of HIPAG.
HHM: HIPAG’ s goal is to“ ensure that infection prevention remains science-driven, practical, and grounded in real-world expertise.” What does that entail more specifically? KW: This means:
• Evidence-based recommendations: Systematic reviews and expert consensus inform all guidance.
• Practicality: Guidelines as needed tailored for implementation across diverse healthcare settings.
• Real-world expertise: Inclusion of frontline IPs and epidemiologists to ensure policies are operationally feasible and patient-centered.
• Rapid response: Ability to issue interim guidance during emerging crises.
HHM: What has been the reaction to HIPAG from the APIC membership so far?
KW: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Members recognize HIPAG as a critical step to fill an important void.
HHM: What are the gaps that HICPAC may not have addressed in APIC’ s view? Are there hopes HICPAC could be restored, and would HIPAG continue to operate? What is CDC’ s role in HIPAG, if any? And how does HIPAG differ from HICPAC?
KW: IPs have long relied on the guidelines issued by HICPAC.
There are no concerns about what HICPAC should have addressed in the past however, the time to issue guidelines was some times measured in years, which we hope to be able to expedite going forward.
If HICPAC is restored in the future, APIC and SHEA would re-evaluate the environment and conditions to determine the proper course of action.
At this point we cannot comment on CDC’ s role in HIPAG.
HIPAG is different from HICPAC in that HICPAC was a federal advisory committee. HIPAG is it operated by APIC and SHEA jointly.
It’ s too early to discuss operational differences between HIPAG and HICPAC.
HHM: HIPAG alludes to addressing“ new challenges and emerging threats.” What is on the radar specifically? KW: This involves:
• Antimicrobial resistance escalation.
• Novel respiratory pathogens and flu subclades.
• Mpox resurgence and vector-borne diseases( dengue, yellow fever).
• Increased global mobility and climate-driven pathogen spread.
• Vaccine hesitancy
HHM: What do you consider to be the important infection prevention and control-related trends for 2026? KW: I foresee:
• Program resourcing: Financial pressures and potential cuts to federal research funding threaten IPC program stability.
• Disease X preparedness: Continued vigilance for unknown pathogens; emphasis on flexible protocols and scenario planning.
• IP staffing: Anticipated retirements and continuing growing need for IPs
• Misinformation and pseudo-science: The dangerous rise in misinformation and the application of pseudo-science and personal belief over science raises significant challenges in infection prevention and control. We’ re seen clear evidence of this happening with vaccines.
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